gift giving

[LotusMum]

I just had both my daughters baptised today. I did a lot of organising, had a lunch for afters and so on.
It wasnt until everyone left that I realised that not one person gave a gift
It was never all about gifts for me, not at all. But it was my daughter's special day and I would have thought that common courtesy would have prevailed and the invitees would have thought to give at least a card or even at the very least a picture drawn on a scrap of paper or anything that my daughter's could keep as a memento of their special day and the people who were there to share it.
Whats happened here, am I being unreasonable or is this common now?
People just dont seem to gift give anymore. Some people even chose not to come as they prefered to go to their own church, others just said no as they had a cold, and the rest actuall did turn up. I know Im ont the religious person in our family (DH is), but still, its a special thing yeah?

[mum1986]

that does seem a bit wrong to me. the last cristening i went to was a mum from my old mothers group, she had just moved to town and didn't know anyone. i had only met her a few times but i still bought a gift. i noticed there though that her dd only got a couple. maybe it is becoming the done thing.
just seems a bit wrong to me, it is a special day.

[Mummita]

I think that's really sad that your daughters don't have anything to keep from their special day. When my daughter got Christened everyone bought a present and the presents reflected what they were able to afford. It's not abouth the gift but there are so many reasonably priced gifts out there that even if money is tight you can get a small memento. And if anything people should just think of the money they've saved by a free lunch and use that money to buy a gift!!

[HugsAndKisses]

I think its rude that no-one even gave a card...i mean it isnt alll about recieving but as you say its just polite to bring a small gift for there special day...i had my son christened at home with only a few people and provided a lunch and he got a gift off everyone and so i just assumed this was the norm:confused:

:hugs:to you and your DDs i hope they still had a lovely day!!

[zenifa]

Yes I do think its a little sad that people didn't bring a card or a little gift to celebrate this special occasion for your children.

This may not apply to your situation, but some people get 'gift giving fatigue' - with engagements, weddings, baby showers and birthdays plus christmas I've heard some people express disdain at having to always buy/bring presents to almost every social occasion they are invited to - so its best not to expect anything, then you won't be disappointed and if you do receive anything its a nice surprise.

[LotusMum]

I totally get the gift giving fatigue, trust me, I suffer from it too, but it wouldnt have killed them to at least get a card.
I feel sad for my girls that they didnt get anything and although I realise that they dont know or understand, I just feel kinda let down.
It comes not long after I was really let down by some people I thought were friends couldnt be bothered to come to my daughter's first birthday in December. It just seems to be that as my girls are furtherest away and that we arent constantly getting family or friends to babysit them, that they are forgotten and not bothered about so much.
In my situation, I am not christened or religous (although I am studying Catholicism at the moment) so I understand if people didnt think it was such a huge deal like if we were full on orthodox, but its still my girls' special day and dont they themselves deserve a memento from those who love them and shared their special day?
THe girls' godmother did get them a bracelt each which was totally lovely and wonderful, but not even the grandparents got them anything. My sister baked for me as their present as she is very broke, so she did somthing lovely, but neither of the grandparents got them anything, the SIL didnt, nobody even brought a card.
Im a very sentimental person so I always keep cards (Havent yet thrown one away since I met DH) so these things mean something to me. Im not one who expects expensive gifts, but it the thought that really matters to me and I feel really let down and sad here. Im probably making a huge deal about this and sound like a right little whinger, and I should be greatful that people came at all I guess.